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Comments
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
At 10 years, the leak is probably your valve covers.
Jim
thanks
In the rest of your post, I believe you're describing when the load on the car gets greater such as a hill, the transmission doesn't downshift from 4th into 3rd. That is normal. At 65 mph it will cruise at 1800 rpm or some number close to that on the tachometer. When the load increases gradually, the torque converter will unlock and the engine speeds up several hundred rpm depending on how much extra throttle has been applied. The extra engine speed usually gives enough extra power to maintain speed even in 4th gear. But applying the throttle gently might not get the results you want. What you can do is just move the shift lever to 3 and the transmission will downshift to 3rd and rev the engine a little more and have substantially more power. You do NOT need to undo the cruise control to do this. After the load is over just shift back into 4th or OD.
I believe the computer learns driving patterns. If you continually do rapid starts and higher throttle acceleration, the engine and transmission shifting are adjusted to expect to do what the driver indicates. So the car may learn your driving if you do want a more showy or brisk driving style. That may, may affect how the car does the slow acceleration when climbing a noticeable hill in 4th gear. Remember the car has been generally calibrated to get 29 mpg overall. Many people can get 32-33 driving interstate speeds on trips. Staying in 4th gear helps the economy.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Mine was giving me a rough shift from 1st to 2nd at times. Not all the time.
My mechanic changed the fluid and gave the tranny a good flush $110.00 and shifts smoothly now. He said the fluid was past its time for changeout. 77K on vehicle.
fred
I have a '97 Regal that gets 27-30 mpg same 3.8L engine as my 2003 LeSabre.
Just had Plugs and wires changed, nothing special OEM stuff. 78K mi.
Fred
Get that fixed first. Transmission most likely is not the problem. You can't tell until the engine is running right.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Same question regarding the catillac converter.
Try searching for car-parts.com and look for your 2000 leSabre transmission. Let is search and come up with the years that it offers as interchangeable. Go through the list and see if any include a 1996 Park Avenue listed as a replacement from a junked vehicle.
Or go to rockauto.com and search for transmission. I don't know if they deal in large parts or not. Then click on the part number, which will be blue, and a box will pop up with all others that use the same transmission.
Best would be to consult an expert in replacing them. I have noticed some Bonneville people posting about changing transmissions that fit but have a different gear ratio in the final drive, e.g. Then adapting them is a problem.
I would ask a transmission shop that does replace transmissions from junkyards and ask what are the possibilities.
See if any of those work for you. Otherwise email me at my email in my profile (click on my user name and go to my carspace page).
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
154,000 miles
Problem:
When it sits overnight or for a long time the tranny will not engage until I drop it into 1st. then when it engages in 1st. I put it into reverse or drive and then it works perfect from then on.
I changed the fluid and filter but it still acts up.
I'm hoping it's not the converter.
Thanx, Rick
Another time it was after a long drive and we arrived at the motel and putting in reverse the tranny wasn't engaged and revving the engine up revealed a clunk and then the tranny engaged.
This was after a fluid change. Vehicle has 83K. It happens sporadically. I guess it's hinting of something coming for the future. This line of Buick seems prone to transmission failure.
Before the fluid change the tranny would shift, sometimes, rough 1st to 2nd. Since the fluid change nice shifting all the time now. Good firm shift.
Fred
What fluid did you use for the change? The new Dexron VI is a synthetic or synthetic blend that can be used for the newer transmissions. You might have another fluid change done and see if additional new cleaners in the fluid help cleanup what I suspect may be something restricting a valve from moving. Realize I may be wrong.
The rough 1-2 shift may be a pressure control module. Some of those seem to not work properly in the 4T65E's lately. Turning the car off and restarting usually changes whatever didn't work right and the shifts are smoother.
>This line of Buick seems prone to transmission failure.
The 4-speed transmissions in Buicks have been considered very reliable. I have to disagree with your statement. IF you think they're not, I recommend buying a Honda (they have a history of trans problems, with extended warranties, replacements that fail, etc. See an odyssey transmission discussion for examples of their current problem area).
Edit. I just realized I didn't ask a relevant question. Did you have the fluid drained and the filter replaced? OR did you have a flush performed where they just connect hoses and pump fluid with a strong cleaner in it through the transmission?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
This last time I did it myself, fluid and filter. I forget what fluid I used.
I thought it was just cuz it was cold out thats why it was acting up.
I changed it to be sure and the fluid looked nice not burned or terribly discolored.
Thanx, Rick
(1) when coming to a stop, hear a "clunk" sound, like a downshift;
(2) just before automatic shift to 1st, feels like a vacuum "whoosh".
Will changing transmission fluid help? Is transmission getting ready to have to be replaced? Thanks for any help.
Does it sound like it's internal to the transmission--then you need to ask an expert.
Don't understand what you mean "automatic shift to 1st"? Do you mean starting from a dead stop and the transmission is going to shift from 1st to 2nd?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The "whoosh" sound doesn't sound like hitting on metal, more like a vacuum line sound.
Thanks.
The odd thing is no codes but the CEL is on...
Hmmm.
Spark plugs and wires in good shape?
Coils?
Either should be giving codes for misfire based on the description you're giving. No codes, thought.
Do you know anyone with the same car that you can switch computers with?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
How many times have the fluid and filter been changed in those miles?
If you are getting a sensation of excess movement in the trans and engine unit, you may have a motor/transmission mount that has gone bad.
You also might have a problem with a pressure control unit inside.
It needs to be driven by experts that you trust not to rip you off or sell you extra stuff trying to "guess" at the solution.
A parts store desk clerk using an electronic reader won't know--theirs don't read transmission codes, if any, in most cases. The one I had on loan from a box store didn't.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Recently had the system "pressure" removal of all old trans fluid which mechanic said was very dirty. (car has 96,000 and original fluid at that time). Mechanic did not drop pan and replace filter. Need some advice please.
Any thoughts out there on what might be the problem. I am thinking a sticky valve??
I personally would use the Mercon/Dexron fluid of a name brand from Walmart. Some would suggest using the Dexron VI which is more synthetic in nature. I did that and took it out after some months and refilled with the Dexron/Mercon which replaces DexronIII.
Rather than adding additives, I would let the fresh additives in the new fluid dissolve what it was to free up anything that is being affected by sludging or sediment. I would run about 5000 miles, use the hand pump from Harbor Freight that's on sale for 6.99 at times with coupon or use the 20% off coupons they put out. Suck out 6 quarts through the diptube. Then refill to the mark warm idling with the Dexron/Mercon. And I'd repeat that over and over as long as it doesn't get worse.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I don't think I have a serious problem but, I would like to know if anyone else has had this problem and what they did, if anything, to fix it.
The car is running great, looks great, and the transmission is working fine.
If it were mine, I'd buy some Dexron/Mercon at Walmart, any major brand, and suction out the six quarts of fluid through the dipstick with a hand pump from Harbor Freight. Then replace the six quarts with the same fluid as original. This would take out half of whatever the Trans Fix dissolved and half o the Trans Fix. It would put in fresh additives in the fresh Dexron III fluid you put in. I'd drive it 5000 miles or more and then drop pan, and change filter, and refill with 6 quarts. You'd have only about 1/4 of the original fluid left in the transmission.
I would not use the Dexron VI fluids.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Many thanks for any ideas.
I'd vote for checking movement in the transmission/engine mounts. Raising the hood and gently acceleration in reverse and forward with the brake on will normally show some movement up and down in the front and back of the motor. If it's a lot (hard to define that) and if you hear sounds when it's moving you might want to have the mounts checked further.
Because you say it seems to lose power for a second but recovers makes me think there's a misfire. The thud might be movement in the engine as it loses power and maybe even too much movement due to a worn mount.
I would check for the plugs and wires. How's the maintenance been? When were they last changed? I had a new set of wires and plugs on a 3100 Buick. After a while I got a repeated hard miss. A single miss under just the right amount of load: just a little uphill where I applied just a little more gas or the cruise did. That's the highest requirement for the spark in the cylinder. The spark was jumping to the metal shield that surrounds the plug wire part that goes onto the plug. But my replacement wires weren't quite compatible and the metal shield was too close to the metal of the engine and there an arcing through the wire to the metal to the engine.
The engine never misfired twice. It seemed like it adapted the mixture to cure the misfire. So I'm wondering if your loss of power is the computer adapting to the misfire.
An old rule is that lots of transmission problems are actually engine driveability problems.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
A sensor for yaw in the Stabilitrak or a speed sensor on the wheel might be giving a bad reading, either due to a worn hub bearing or bad connection at the clip or a break in a wire.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Look for a modulator about the size of a small fist on the outside of the trans with a vacuum line.
Part #32 in this diagram.
Check vacuum line to it for fluid.
About $15
Check rockauto.com
Good luck.
http://parts.nalleygmc.com/images/parts/gm/fullsize/920520GM04-398.JPG
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,